To win a premiership, which halfbacks would you prefer instead of DCE?

[SeaEagleRock8]

I would keep Chez

Yep, but make Turbo captain. Not sure how many NRL captains have been in charge for more than 6 years, but simple fact is the side hasn't been on a clear upward trajectory under his leadership, and for a variety of reasons a significant shakeup is needed in the place.
I think he's still one of the top halfbacks, and way better than anyone else we are likely to get at this time.

 

[Marto1970]

Yep, but make Turbo captain. Not sure how many NRL captains have been in charge for more than 6 years, but simple fact is the side hasn't been on a clear upward trajectory under his leadership, and for a variety of reasons a significant shakeup is needed in the place.
I think he's still one of the top halfbacks, and way better than anyone else we are likely to get at this time.

Good point, not only have we missed Turbos football abilities which I think Garrick has done a pretty good job filling in but Turbos talk and leadership,the Captain situation ? Like to see how they respond in the next 3 games nothing to play for but pride now

 

[jbb/james]

Finding a halfback that can steer your team around cant be done if your not looking and are fully committed in the salary cap

its being ballsy enough to admit we wont do it with chez and get about moulding a squad that doesn't revolve around him and his ways

the mitchell pearce moment

he has class in spades, but lacks a stack of halfback staples which is one of manlys defining qualities.

our kicking stinks, our decision making poor, our mental state is flimsy, and our attitude to posession considering how often we get dominated in this stat is amazingly flamboyant

consistency means getting these things right often and our halfback not only looks unlikely to mature, and reach the potential an 8 year deal had the opportunity to allow, but at times seems resistant to even consider being the man the team needs

 

[Son of Manly Beach]

For me, it would be Jerome Hughes.

I've always loved Chezza, but It's been too long now and we could do with a change...and so could could Chez I reckon.
It'd feel weird seeing him anywhere else, so maybe a new team like the Dolphins would be ideal

 

[Son of Manly Beach]

I wouldn’t take any of them over dce…
We’ve seen how dce stands up behind a half decent pack… he has won 2 unwinnable origin series when the guys standing on the field with him put the effort in..

I don’t see a 7 out there ide take over him except Cleary… and in my opinion, without dce manly collects their first spoon In the joke that was the 2016-2022 period..

How bout we get rid of the front row, half the back row, and the plodding centres , THEN maybe look at sacking the incumbent Queensland captaining halfback/Australian halfback

FMD

yeah look, you make a very good point actually
There's much bigger plodders in the team than Chez

 

[court83]

yeah look, you make a very good point actually
There's much bigger plodders in the team than Chez

I’m not saying he’s perfect by any stretch…
There are absolutely games where he runs around like a headless chook and I yell at him for the full 80…
But how often is he playing behind a plodding pack..
How many games this season has he been continually trying to make something happen on the 5th tackle from his own 30m line because NONE of the props or back row stand up and put the hard work in to gain any ground???
How many games are Saab and Harper doing half the hit ups from our own 20 , going nowhere while the props/back row absolutely nothing…
That’s been about 80% of our season, so until that s$&t gets sorted, punting cherry evans is the last thing on my to do list

 

[40 nil]

When DCE was appointed captain in 2017, there was noise from outside the club that Jake would have been a better choice. Although DCE is good diplomatically and is popular with the players, he hasn't shown evidence that he can lead from the front when the chips are down. When the side is behind on the scoreboard, he often looks flustered, becomes impatient and makes bizarre plays. I think this adversely affects the whole team. His temperament is the polar reverse of Cameron Smith who kept his cool in nearly all situations. IMO, the only way for the current team to progress in future is with a new captain. But with Des's intransigent ways, how can this happen? Eventually, Turbo should be team captain - a natural leader and our best player.

It's true that polls like this are only hypothetical, but I think some other halves would give us a higher chance of premiership success. DCE has skills not possessed by all halfbacks, but some other halfbacks are more consistent. DCE is older now & has lost some speed, esp. after his ankle injury in 2019. He doesn't make many long line breaks these days and several other halfbacks have better running games, e.g. Moses, Hughes, Keary, Dearden, Hynes.

Of the halfbacks in the poll, I think Hynes would complement our style of play best and would help improve the games of our outside backs.

The reality is that DCE is contracted till the end of 2025 and we are unlikely to buy a new 'name' halfback. In the meantime, I hope the careers of young guns Humphreys & Latu Fainu are not impeded.

 

[robbiea]

Would rather start with the best young 7 running around ,who cant break into his current squad.
Start fresh as soon as possible.
I like the looks of Madden.

 

[Ron E. Gibbs]

The reality is that DCE is contracted till the end of 2025 and we are unlikely to buy a new 'name' halfback. In the meantime, I hope the careers of young guns Humphreys & Latu Fainu are not impeded.

Yeah, like it or not, DCE isn't going anywhere and will be our halfback for another three - yes, three! - seasons. Saying it out loud like that, it feels like a very, very long time.

 

[double hoops]

Despite wearing 7. DCE is no halfback. He needs a half next to him controlling the show, whilst he over plays his hand on every play.

 

[Tragic Eagle]

The kid that played 7 for Souths on the weekend will do me.

 

[Highflier]

I voted for Hynes ,only because you have to pick someone ,I guess he seems to have a cool head, makes good decisions and is an X Manly junior (thank you Trent Barrett for showing the door to Nicko ,Gutho and Ramien ? and snapping up Nate Myles,Cory Waddell and that other guy the 2nd rower/hooker etc ) Having said that the reason DCE goes so well most times in SOO is because he is playing behind a go forward pack .I think a lot of his panic plays are in the most part because the defence is already on him and he has no space due to previous point . So for me we have to improve our front row and fitness .We need to play direct to unlock DCE and Schu and the backline in general to do that we need consistent go forward ,which despite the size of some our front row, have not been able to deliver consistently or in enough quantity.
I hate the fact we let JWH slip thru our fingers (not sure for who ) and equally upset that it comes to light that apparently Sam Burgess used to pester Des with texts to let him come to Manly ,and Des ignored then despite Beaver singing his praises. Like imagine what could have been ?? anyways fast foward to now you have reformed assaulter and alcoholic Matt Lodge along with JWH setting a platform for the Rorters that I think will take them very close to yet another premiership. So could DCE play better sometimes ? yes ,but I'm afraid it all starts with the go forward and line speed which we just don't have consistently
Fix that and you fix a lot of the other stuff we all whinge about

 

[Rafferty]

Would rather start with the best young 7 running around ,who cant break into his current squad.
Start fresh as soon as possible.
I like the looks of Madden.

So do the Riff, if I was Jock, I know where I’d be headed.

 

[HK_Eagle]

I'm not sure we would be able to field 3 halfbacks instead of DCE. You're only usually allowed one and if there was a loophole Melbourne would have already found it. Cleary is obviously the best but I have nagging doubts about him, something to do with how he has got a lot bigger quite quickly, his permanent acne and the neanderthal like forehead. They are usually warning signs for something that I can't quite put my finger on

Yeah, but like he is ever going to be busted for it!.. Bit like Ponga and the cubicle. We all know what's going on, but we also know the NRL will do nothing unless somebody blows the whistle and forces their hand.

 

[WiseyEagle]

Morgan Boyle?

 

[Chip and Chase]

re field goals,but I’ve said for many years after those games was that if he’d played a better,more controlled game,those matches probably wouldn’t have required him to kick field goals

Absoeffinlutely. Have said the same many a time. We get involved in a cripple fight and because DCE kicks a field goal he's suddenly the best halfback in the NRL ? Close out the match through game management in the first place. No doubt he has kicked some crackers over the years and some of them were definitely clutch, but there are plenty that are just due to us being unable to win a game through normal means.

In terms of who I would take over DCE for a premiership tilt ? It all depends on what you are going to pay and how much change you get from the $1.2mil we are currently forking out. What do you get to spend elsewhere to improve overall balance of the side ? In terms of straight up ability and performance then Cleary, Hughes and Hynes (small sample space I agree) are no brainers IMO. Reynolds and Hunt don't have the same ceiling, but they definitely have a higher floor so their consistency of performance and game management is an attraction. If you said I could have Foran on $300K for the next 2 years and we get to sign Munster with the change, then i say shut up and take my money.

It's a wistful thread and makes you wonder what if, but we are locked in for 3 more years. Unfortunately 3 more years without a premiership I fear.

 

[HK_Eagle]

Unlike Cronk suggests, I believe DCE does have composure under pressure. His clutch golden point field goals are testament to that. However, he is a purely instinctual player. He doesn't follow set patterns of play that have been ingrained through years of repetition into muscle memory (like a Foz, for instance). He doesn't spend much time thinking and scheming during the game, like a Cronk or Cam. He just largely plays what's in front of him, and that's why it is often so rocks and diamonds.

DCE could easily be in a premiership winning side (still), however, there are three critical things that would need to happen, IMO.

1. It is imperative to have an organising structured half (like Foz) playing with him. I'm really concerned with what I've seen from Schu as I think he is so far from that, at this stage.

2. In order for 1. to work properly, captaincy must go to given to somebody else. In addition, the other organising half should be given control of the game, over DCE, and DCE should only take control when he sees an opportunity open up. That would better suit DCE's skill set and help the team overall. Without captaincy, DCE would be free from feeling like he has to make something happen all the time.

3. Stronger, more direct and dynamic go forward in the front row. We need greater momentum in the ruck to lay a better platform.

 

[mickqld]

There's 8 of them I'd take ahead of the goose even if his salary was cut in half where it belongs. But to be fair lets do polls like this for all positions. Only Tom, Hamole, Jake, Ruben might survive the cut.

 

[Nordburg]

Absoeffinlutely. Have said the same many a time. We get involved in a cripple fight and because DCE kicks a field goal he's suddenly the best halfback in the NRL ? Close out the match through game management in the first place. No doubt he has kicked some crackers over the years and some of them were definitely clutch, but there are plenty that are just due to us being unable to win a game through normal means.

In terms of who I would take over DCE for a premiership tilt ? It all depends on what you are going to pay and how much change you get from the $1.2mil we are currently forking out. What do you get to spend elsewhere to improve overall balance of the side ? In terms of straight up ability and performance then Cleary, Hughes and Hynes (small sample space I agree) are no brainers IMO. Reynolds and Hunt don't have the same ceiling, but they definitely have a higher floor so their consistency of performance and game management is an attraction. If you said I could have Foran on $300K for the next 2 years and we get to sign Munster with the change, then i say shut up and take my money.

It's a wistful thread and makes you wonder what if, but we are locked in for 3 more years. Unfortunately 3 more years without a premiership I fear.

The interesting thing for me with his extension is that I haven’t read how much he is rumoured to be on in that time.Normally there’s always someone in the media that reveals a figure,right or wrong,but I must of missed this news.If he’s on less than a million a year for that contract,I’d be happy with that

 

[Red Pill]

Can you add the option of “none”?
I honestly don’t get all this negativity towards DCE he did have a good game yesterday but imo he a consistent solid performer. I could understand questioning the $ he is apparently on to some degree
This guy is the QLD captain for crying out loud. Behind a strong pack DCE is always going to shine. Yesterday he simply tried too hard. Our go forward was crap…